I had an opportunity to examine a pin block with an otoscope. That is the device a Dr. uses to look into your ear, and with an attachment looks at the retina of your eyeball. I removed the tuning pin from a piano that I am considering treating with Garfields tuning pin tightner. or tuning block restorer, which ever it is called. I borrowed an otoscope from the local DVM and gazed into the hole. The first impression I had was that I could see into the hole without an instrument if only I had the proper light, which the 'scope provided. I also realized being near-sighted helps. (I am near-sighted in one eye and far-sighted in the other.) I was surprised that I could not see the laninations looking into the hole. (Before I had pulled the top off to see if there were any seperations. There the lamanations there were clear with no seperations.) Looking into the hole I could not see the outlines any laminatins. It looked as if the pin block were one log of white cotton wood. I guess that the driving in of the pin fuzzed every thing up. I was able to see a few chips left from the drill as the t pin did not seem to go all the way to the bottom. Anyhow I was not able to see any sign of seperation of lamanations from this inspection of one tuning pin hole. (This was the upright piano with the bottom row of tuning pins loose and the top two rows tight) I chose the loosest and bottom most pin hole to look into. I am grateful for the suggestion(s) to inspect the tuning pin block from the bottom, looking in from behind the piano where it joins the back posts. There I did not see any separations there. (even with a redundency of inspectins in that area) So in regards to the usefulness of the otoscope, its not worth the "about" $250 Dr. Naaz said it cost. IMHO There is a magnifying glass that is pocket size that has a light on it that costs less than $25. That is what I would like to try next for tuning pin holes. I asked at the local variety store, but the owner said he knew of them but didn't know where to get them any more. They were popular among stamp collectors and hortoculturalists. (and rock-n-roll roadies). I used to have one. If anyone knows of these and where to get them, please post. They are great to examine piano parts such as bridge pins, and broken strings (to see if there were rust spots) etc. and should you want to, tuning pin holes, I am reasonably sure. Richard Moody
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